The simple definition
A focused NDI video player for live production.
An NDI playback deck is a media playback surface built for the live show environment. Instead of treating every clip as another source buried inside OBS, Wirecast, vMix, or another production app, a playback deck gives video files their own operator workflow.
That workflow matters most during a live show. Someone needs to roll an intro, a pre-recorded segment, a highlight package, a countdown, an intermission loop, or a client video. A dedicated NDI playback deck keeps those files ready and sends the result into the production as a clean NDI source.
Why live producers use a dedicated playback deck
Modern livestreams and hybrid events often put too much responsibility on the main encoder. It may already be managing cameras, screen shares, remote guests, scenes, graphics, audio, recording, streaming, and chat. Adding every show clip to that same session can make the production harder to operate.
A dedicated playback deck moves media operation into its own surface. The main production tool can focus on switching and streaming while the playback deck handles the practical job of getting video roll-ins ready.
| Workflow need | Typical approach | Dedicated NDI playback advantage |
|---|
| Play video roll-ins | Load clips into OBS, Wirecast, vMix scenes, or a crowded media bin. | Run roll-ins from a focused playback surface and send them as NDI. |
| Run show packages and bumpers | Manage files manually during the show. | Keep intros, packages, bumpers, and loops ready to cue. |
| Send playback into production | Capture a display, window, or app-specific media source. | Send clean NDI playback into OBS, Wirecast, vMix, NDI Monitor, and compatible receivers. |
| Keep the encoder stable | Add more sources, scenes, media files, and last-minute changes to the main encoder. | Separate playback responsibility from switching, streaming, recording, and graphics. |
| Confidence monitor media | Watch playback inside the same busy production app. | Use dedicated player wells, playlist controls, levels, and monitoring for operator confidence. |
Where an NDI playback deck fits
An NDI playback deck fits beside the rest of the production system. In a typical Mac live production workflow, the playback deck runs on the same Mac or another Mac on the production network. Its output appears as an NDI source in the receiver, switcher, encoder, or monitoring tool.
That makes it useful for OBS, Wirecast, vMix, NDI Monitor, hardware-assisted control rooms, event production laptops, and show teams that already understand source-based live production.
Common NDI playback deck use cases
- Opening videos and show intros
- Video roll-ins during livestreams
- Pre-recorded interviews and explainers
- Client media and show packages
- Countdowns, intermission loops, and break media
- Sports, education, webinar, corporate, and podcast productions
A-B Roll
A Mac-first NDI playback deck.
A-B Roll is a dedicated dual-deck NDI media player for Mac live production. It gives show media a focused place to live, with Player A and Player B wells, playlist workflow, audio confidence, and NDI-friendly input and output.
It is designed for live producers who want a practical playback deck rather than a giant all-in-one production surface. The goal is simple: keep media playback clear, separate, and operator-friendly.
Looking specifically for the Mac playback workflow? Read NDI Media Player for Mac Live Production.
View A-B Roll
